SAN JOSE -- Sharks captain Joe Thornton has won nearly two-thirds of his faceoffs against the Los Angeles Kings going into Tuesday's Game 4, the best percentage for any San Jose player who has taken at least 30 draws in the series.

That's a vast improvement for Thornton, who did not have a good series in the faceoff circle in the first round against Vancouver, winning just 39 of 83 draws in the four-game sweep. He is 32 of 51 (62.7 percent) against the Kings.

"Jumbo didn't have the best series against Vancouver. We post faceoff stats, and very seldom is his name near the bottom," coach Todd McLellan said. "I think he took note of it and wants to make a difference. He's done a good job."

San Jose Sharks Joe Thornton (19) faces off against Los Angeles Kings Anze Kopitar (11) in the third period in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at HP Pavilion on Saturday, May 18, 2013. (Josie Lepe/Bay Area News Group)

When asked Monday about his success in the faceoff circle so far in this Western Conference semifinal series against the Kings, Thornton said "sometimes things go your way." But his numbers in that category through three games would indicate it's more than just good fortune.

The Kings' faceoff circle success has clearly been hampered by the loss of Jarret Stoll, who has been out with shoulder and head injuries since being hit by Raffi Torres in Game 1 in Los Angeles. Stoll was the Kings' leader in that department in the regular season, as he won 56 percent of his draws.

In the past two games with Stoll out, Thornton has won 27 of 38 faceoffs.

Advertisement

"The last couple games, it's been working out for me. Hopefully I can continue that," Thornton said. "Puck possession is everything, so as much as you can have the puck, it's better to get on offense. It's a competitive situation. You just try to win as many as you can."

Winger Adam Burish took part in his first full practice since he injured his right hand in the last game of the opening round against Vancouver.

"He was excited, obviously. He had a lot of energy, and actually moved the puck fairly well," McLellan said. "Maybe he's closer than we originally thought. It's a good sign for us."

Burish, who typically plays on the fourth line and on the penalty kill, is not expected to play Tuesday night, but is still hopeful he can be in the lineup before the Western Conference semifinal series is over.

"It's maybe a step better than yesterday, but day to day is still probably the best," Burish said Monday. "That's the way I'm approaching it, too. Every day I'm trying to feel better and hopefully a day closer. Hopefully one of these days when I beg the doctors hard enough, they'll say OK."

The Sharks' strategy of getting as many bodies and pucks to the net to solve Los Angeles goalie Jonathan Quick hasn't resulted in many goals, but they have outshot the Kings 106-78 through three games.

"You're not going to score if you don't shoot," defenseman Matt Irwin said. "We just have to shoot as much as we can when we get opportunities and maybe a weak one goes in one of these times. Who knows? But it creates confusion and we have to keep going with that."

Forward Marty Havlat, out for Tuesday's game with a lower body injury, did not skate Monday.

The NHL did not take any supplemental discipline against the Kings' Quick, who earned a game misconduct at the conclusion of Game 3 for abusing the officials after San Jose's 2-1 overtime victory.

Earlier, Quick appeared to be indicating his displeasure after San Jose's first goal when he skated out of his crease to tap an official on the shin with the goalie's stick to get his attention. After the game, Quick confronted two officials separately along the side boards before leaving the ice.